Dejero and Frontline to Deliver News Backhaul SUV for WLEX-TV
Dejero CellSat WLEX-TV FrontLine Truck
Dejero has been working with systems integration partner, Frontline Communications, to deliver reliable connectivity to WLEX-TV by installing Dejero CellSat into a Chevrolet Traverse SUV, giving confidence to WLEX-TV field operators when sending high quality video back to base.
WLEX-TV, the NBC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky, and part of the Cordillera Communications Group is a very popular local station broadcasting seven hours of live programming a day and covering 40 counties across central Kentucky. It’s vital for the station to keep its viewers up to date with the movement of storms and breaking news, so establishing a reliable transmission path to send video and audio back to the broadcast studio is critical.
“With CellSat on board, unlike a traditional SNG truck set-up, there is no need to bring in specialist operators or pre-arrange a satellite slot. You simply put up the dish in case it’s needed, and it connects on demand – and only when the cellular signal alone isn’t strong enough.”— Sam Gordon, operations manager at WLEX-TV
Providing enhanced reliability in situations where cellular networks are congested or cell coverage is limited, Dejero's CellSat solution leverages the company’s patented network blending technology to improve reliability by combining cellular connectivity from multiple mobile network carriers with Ku-band IP satellite connectivity provided by Intelsat.
If the available cellular bandwidth dips, up to 7.5 Mb/s of additional satellite bandwidth is automatically provided — providing more than enough connectivity to deliver high quality pictures, even if cellular connectivity is lost entirely. This allows broadcasters to manage their transmission costs by using cellular when available, or CellSat when extra reliability and high quality are desired.
Frontline Communications is a leader in building broadcast, mobile command, and specialty communications vehicles. Working with vehicles from small SUV’s to tractor drawn 53-foot trailers, it was ideally qualified to take the Chevrolet Traverse SUV, a mid-sized SUV, and convert it into a mobile remote production facility, using Dejero CellSat.
Dejero’s cloud-based management system allows operators back at the studio to remotely control transmitters in the field, monitor and route incoming video feeds, and view detailed performance data, leaving the remote crew to get on with the job of covering the story.
In December last year, WLEX-TV covered the Music City Bowl, a popular post-season American college football fixture that takes place annually in Nashville.
“Although the Nissan Stadium in downtown Nashville which usually has solid connectivity available, with somewhere around 70,000 fans, we figured that the cell networks could get overloaded — so we needed a backup. CellSat gave us the extra confidence that we wouldn’t lose connectivity during a live shot. It worked perfectly for our operator. Back at the station, we couldn’t tell whether the video was coming in via satellite or cell; the picture quality was that good. The latency was also just like any other cellular shot that we have done."— Sam Gordon, operations manager at WLEX-TV
WLEX-TV has found the ideal combination of reliability, flexibility and simplicity with their SUV outfitted by Frontline and equipped with Dejero CellSat. Its crews and field reporters can be on location quickly and get connectivity from virtually anywhere in order to be the first to broadcast breaking news, even when operating in congested cellular locations such as at the Music City Bowl.
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